Utilization of terrestrial organic matter by the bivalve <Emphasis Type="Italic">Corbicula japonica</Emphasis> estimated from stable isotope analysis

ABSTRACT:   Carbon and nitrogen isotopic ratios in tissue of the bivalve corbicula ( Corbicula japonica ) and particulate organic matter (POM) were measured along a salinity gradient in the Kushida Estuary, Japan. The bivalve exhibited a gradual isotopic enrichment from the uppermost estuarine site (δ¹³C = −24.8‰ and δ¹⁵N = 8.6‰) to the marine site (δ¹³C = −16.1‰ and δ¹⁵N = 11.8‰). Using the concentration-weighted mixing model, the bivalves' food source is estimated from the isotope values for the bivalves and POM from terrestrial plants, marine phytoplankton and benthic microalgae. The results indicated that the contributions of benthic micro algae and phytoplankton were small, while terrestrial particulate matter is significantly important for the corbicula diet, although the contribution varies among sampling sites.     

Shell growth and age determination of the brackish water bivalve Corbicula japonica in Lake Shinji, Japan

ABSTRACT:   Shell growth and age determination of Corbicula japonica were investigated from samples collected monthly at two sites and field growth experiments from November 1999 to November 2000 in Lake Shinji. Both specimens did not grow in winter when the water temperature was below 11°C, but grew rapidly from spring to early summer when the water temperature rose from 15°C to 30°C, before further growing slowly from summer to autumn after the main breeding period. The monthly marginal growth distribution of the samples indicated that the concentric groove on the shell surface was an annual growth ring. It is concluded that the age of C .  japonica in the i -ring group when the shell growth resumed in spring was i  + 0.5 ( i  = 1, 2, · · ·), because the first true growth ring was formed at 0–2 mm in shell length, which then faded with growth. Lee's phenomenon was observed in the age determination results, and thus the growth coefficient and the asymptotic shell length of the von Bertalanffy growth equation were not estimated from the samples. However, these parameters were estimated from the annual shell length increments of the experimental individuals, which were 0.331/year and 28.2 mm, respectively.     

Stable isotope analysis of energy sources for larvae of eight fish species from the Amazon floodplain

Abstract – Aquatic macrophytes form the most productive habitat of the Amazon floodplain and account for more than 60% of the net primary production of the ecosystem. Aquatic grasses are the dominant macrophytes and the main feeding ground of Amazonian larval fish. The present study used stable isotopes of nitrogen and carbon to measure the contribution of aquatic grasses to the production of eight larval fish, and describes the structure of the trophic chain. The carnivore larvae were at the third trophic level, and the detritivores were at the second and third trophic levels. The contribution of aquatic grasses to larval fish production was variable. It could reach a mean value of 25% for three species, but its contribution probably did not exceed 12% in the other five species.     

Growth and food availability of silver and bighead carps: evidence from stable isotope and gut content analysis

A 2-year investigation of growth and food availability of silver carp and bighead was carried out using stable isotope and gut content analysis in a large pen in Meiliang Bay of Lake Taihu, China. Both silver carp and bighead exhibited significantly higher δ¹³C in 2005 than in 2004, which can probably be attributed to two factors: (i) the difference between isotopic compositions at the base of the pelagic food web and (ii) the difference between the compositions of prey items and stable isotopes. The significantly positive correlations between body length, body weight and stable isotope ratios indicated that isotopic changes in silver carp and bighead resulted from the accumulation of biomass concomitant with rapid growth. Because of the drastic decrease in zooplankton in the diet in 2005, silver carp and bighead grew faster in 2004 than in 2005. Bighead carp showed a lower trophic level than silver carp in 2005 as indicated by stable nitrogen isotope ratios, which was possibly explained by the interspecific difference between the prey species and the food quality of silver carp and bighead.     

运用稳定同位素技术研究长江口及南黄海水域春季拖网渔获物的营养级

利用氮稳定同位素示踪技术,对2005年4-5月长江口及南黄海毗邻水域拖网渔获物的营养级进行了研究。结果表明,长江口海域主要生物资源种类的营养级处于3.19～5.11,集中在3.70～4.65;南黄海海域主要生物资源种类的营养级处于2.46～4.88,集中在3.90～4.40。基于系统基线生物稳定同位素比值的影响,相对南黄海,长江口海域55%生物的相对营养级增加,增加幅度为0.01～0.63,集中在0.01～0.06,其生物数量占了总生物数量的30%;40%生物的相对营养级减少的,减少幅度为0.02～0.74,集中在0～0.21,其生物数量占总生物数量的30%;以上结果接近用胃含物分析法得到的生物营养级空间变幅绝对值。将营养级的胃含物分析结果与氮稳定同位素计算结果相比,长江口9种鱼类2种方法计算结果变幅绝对值为0.01～1.21;南黄海11种鱼类2种方法计算结果变幅绝对值为0.08～1.26;两海域的计算结果变幅绝对值差异较小。结论认为,两海域生物资源种类的营养级存在空间差异,随生物种类差异有所不同;稳定同位素法与胃含物分析法的计算结果差异较小。     

基于稳定同位素技术的浙江南部近海主要渔业生物营养级

2016年2月和5月在浙江南部近海拖网采集到33种鱼类和18种无脊椎动物,利用稳定同位素技术测定渔业生物的稳定碳、氮同位素比值(δ~(13)C、δ~(15)N),并以此估算其营养级。研究结果表明:(1)浙江南部近海主要渔业生物同位素比值跨度范围大,δ~(13)C值范围为–19.71‰～–14.01‰(跨度5.70‰),δ15N值范围为7.05‰～13.69‰(跨度6.64‰),其中鱼类的碳、氮同位素跨度范围最大;(2)以滤食性双壳类为基线生物估算浙江南部近海鱼类平均营养级范围为2.66～4.21,甲壳类营养级范围为3.08～3.72,头足类营养级范围为2.83～3.49,腹足类营养级范围为3.54～3.62,渔业生物营养级主要处于3.0～4.0营养级,以初级和中级肉食性种类为主;(3)根据聚类和食性文献资料分析浙江南部近海主要渔业生物存在5种食性类型,包括浮游动物食性、杂食性、底栖生物食性、混合食性和游泳动物食性;(4)根据营养结构特征,浙江南部近海食物网营养结构可划分为4个营养群,初级消费者主要为杂食性种类,次级消费者主要为小型鱼类、虾类及头足类,中级消费者主要为底栖蟹类、腹足类和混合食性鱼类,高级消费者为凶猛肉食性鱼类。本研究建立了浙江南部近海主要渔业生物的连续营养谱,为生态系统的食物网能量流动和物质循环研究提供科学参考。     

三峡库区干流鱼类食物网动态及季节性变化

为了解三峡大坝蓄水后库区干流鱼类食物网结构及营养关系的构成,应用碳(δ¹³C)、氮(δ¹⁵N)稳定性同位素技术,分别于2010年夏季(7月份)和冬季(12月份)对三峡库区巫山至万州段干流鱼类食物网结构及营养关系的季节变化进行了探讨,并与2005年夏季该区域鱼类食物网结构和营养关系组成情况进行了比较。结果显示:本次(2010年)调查颗粒有机物(POM)和固着藻类样品δ¹³C值分别为-25.62‰～-23.72‰、-19.81‰～-19.47‰,且无显著性季节(夏季和冬季)差异。POM 和固着藻类(内源性营养物质)是三峡库区巫山至万州段干流鱼类食物网基础能量的主要来源,但外源性营养物质输入也是其基础能量来源的重要补充途径。与2005年相比,2010年该区域鱼类食物网中消费者δ¹³C值富集度和食物网营养级长度均有所增加。该研究结果对三峡库区鱼类资源增殖放流和生态修复有重要指导意义。     

Stable isotope analysis of trophic position and terrestrial vs. marine carbon sources for juvenile Pacific salmonids in nearshore marine habitats

Abstract  Stable isotope analysis was used to determine trophic position and the relative contributions of terrestrial-derived carbon (TDC) and marine-derived carbon for Chinook, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha (Walbaum), pink, Oncorhynchus gorbuscha (Walbaum), and chum, Oncorhynchus keta (Walbaum) salmon fry in near-shore marine habitats. Chum fry were enriched in δ ¹³C relative to pink fry, and enriched in δ ¹⁵N relative to both Chinook and pink fry. Between 5.5 and 39.7% of the carbon in the three species was TDC. The TDC was higher in chum fry (28.7 ± 4% SD) than in pink fry (24.9 ± 4.4% SD), but TDC did not differ between Chinook fry (27.8 ± 9.5% SD) and either chum or pink fry. The fry of these three species of Pacific salmon may form a trophic hierarchy with chum fry occupying the highest trophic position and the three species may also partition resources according to carbon source.     

基于碳、氮稳定同位素研究黄海及东海北部主要鱼类的营养级和食性

本研究通过对2011~2014年间在黄海及东海北部采集的36种海洋鱼类进行碳、氮稳定同位素测定,利用碳稳定同位素比值(δ¹³C)计算底层饵料贡献比(Bp)来确定鱼类的食性,利用氮稳定同位素比值(δ¹⁵N)计算其营养级(TL)。结果显示,这36种鱼类的营养级范围为2.75~4.34,平均值为3.47。其中,4种为完全浮游生物食性,8种为底栖生物食性,完全底栖生物食性为12种,混合食性为12种。中(TL=3.5~4)、低(TL<3.5)营养级的种类占大多数(91.67%),而高营养级(TL>4)种类较少,仅为3种,且全部为混合食性。营养级的研究结果与1986、1992和2004年的研究对比发现,个别种类发生了改变。如蓝点马鲛(Sconberonorus niphonius)营养级有不同程度的下降;而黄鲫(Setipinna t)aty却有不同程度的上升。食性的研究结果与2004、2009和2011年的研究对比发现,有些种类食性发生了较大变化,如白姑鱼(Argyrosomus argentatus);有些种类食性几乎没有变化,如小黄鱼(Larimichthys polyactis)。     

Using stable isotope analysis to assess the relationship among dietary protein sources,growth, nutrient turnover and incorporation in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

Nile tilapia (1.20 g) were fed for 56 days in five treatments (FM100 containing only fish meal [FM] as a protein source; soybean meal (SBM) replace 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% of FM protein in the diets of FM75, FM50, FM25 and FM0, respectively) to assess the effects of dietary protein sources on growth, turnover half‐life of nitrogen and carbon stable isotopes (δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N) in muscle, isotope discrimination factors (Δ¹⁵N and Δ¹³C), and the relative contribution of protein sources to muscle growth. Results showed that the final body weight, weight gain and specific growth rate of fish fed diet FM25 were significantly higher than other treatments (p < .05). By day 35, fish under all treatments reached isotopic equilibrium, and the equilibrium values consistently increase as a function of stable isotope values in diets. Growth accounted for most isotopic changes in muscle and resulted in significantly shorter half‐lives of nitrogen and carbon in FM25 (p < .05). The Δ¹⁵N of FM25 and Δ¹³C of FM0 were significantly lower than other treatments (p < .05). The proportional contributions of SBM protein were significantly higher than their respective levels in FM75 and FM25 (p < .05), indicating a preferential incorporation of nitrogen from the SBM in muscle tissue.     

南黄海春季鳀和赤鼻棱鳀的食物竞争

根据南黄海鳀(Engraulis japonicus)和赤鼻棱鳀(Thrissa kammalensis)及其饵料的碳氮稳定同位素比值,采用IsoSource软件计算了两者饵料的质量贡献比。发现二者食物来源较为一致,其中仔稚鱼对鳀和赤鼻棱鳀的质量贡献率分别为42%~50%和53%~70%,是两者的首要能量与营养源。在获得食物贡献比的基础上,分别采用食物重叠指数法、聚类分析法和稳定同位素法3种方法,针对5种不同的摄食条件,依次对鳀与赤鼻棱鳀的食物重叠度进行计算。其中在饵料平均贡献比条件下,3种方法的计算结果相差不大,都在70%左右,计算偏差≤5%。研究结果表明,两者的食物竞争主要是针对仔稚鱼展开的,两者间存在显著的食物竞争关系。     

Carbon source and trophic position of pelagic fish in coastal waters of south-eastern Izu Peninsula,Japan, identified by stable isotope analysis

ABSTRACT:   It is important to clarify trophic dynamics in marine ecosystems for management of the fishing ground. Organic carbon sources and trophic position of pelagic fishes in the coastal waters of the south-eastern Izu Peninsula, Japan, were examined on the basis of carbon and nitrogen stable isotope distributions. The δ¹³C of the fishes was mostly distributed from −19 to −16‰ for nektonic fishes (13 species of adults and immatures) and planktonic fishes (10 species of larvae and juveniles), close to the δ¹³C values of particulate organic matter and planktonic decapods. These δ¹³C signatures for the inhabitants of the water column were in contrast with the high δ¹³C values (mainly −16 to −13‰) for demersal fishes of Scorpaeniformes and benthic polychaetes collected in the surf zone. These results indicate that nektonic and planktonic fishes depend on phytoplankton for carbon supply. The δ¹⁵N signatures suggest that the trophic position ranged 3.1–4.5 for the nektonic fishes and 2.9–3.7 for the planktonic fishes, premised on trophic level 3 for larval Japanese anchovy Engraulis japonicus . Thus, planktivorous fishes should be mainly assigned to trophic levels 3 and 4 in this area.     

Differences in stable isotope ratios of Dall’s porpoises (Phocoenoides dalli) between coastal and oceanic areas of the North Pacific

Carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios in the muscle of Dall’s porpoises were measured. Samples were collected from the catches of the hand harpoon fishery, incidental catches of drift net, and scientific research on the use of drift nets. Samples were from the North Pacific, Sea of Japan, Sea of Okhotsk, and Bering Sea. Although no variation in δ¹⁵N was observed, δ¹³C was significantly different between population groups near Japan and the oceanic North Pacific and Bering Sea. The difference may be due not only to local variation in prey species, but also to an overall difference in carbon stable isotope ratios that originate from coastal benthic or oceanic pelagic‐based food webs. We differentiated Dall’s porpoise population groups from both areas using carbon stable isotope ratios with an error rate of <5%. Although further study is needed, our results suggest that carbon stable isotope ratios could possibly be an indicator of whether a Dall’s porpoise belongs to a coastal benthic or oceanic pelagic food web.